May Day in Glasgow

Anarchobabe | 01.05.2002 19:54

Short descripton of May Day in Glasgow.

Glasgow Mayday: relaxed and chilled

Here some impressions about Mayday in Glasgow, till about four o’clock as I had to leave then. It was one of the rare, nice, sunny days on the Westcoast most of the time, and the atmosphere was relaxed and chilled. Families and kids and babys enjoyed Glasgow Mayday as well as the adults, and there were, as last year, lots of brilliant, colourfull, funny costumes, puppets, posters and banners and loads of difficult to describe, creative art. Well done!

Well, it started of with a little bit of percussion from a samba band. And we went to the town hall on which a the red flag flew (wasn’t it the black one last year?) was hissed and we stopped a little bit to give people time to protest- and to dance, of course! O well, I forgot, that there was suddenly a sound system appearing when we passed a lorry. And later, there was a second sound system. There was also a stop in front of the army recruitment office. Ah, and when the pedestrian zone was crossed, there was another lorry, which put up the plastic curtain of one side, and had a quite old-fashioned living room inside, with costumes and music from the twenties!

Well, the by-passers stopped and seemed to be happy about the music and everybody was reluctant to move on. It is happily proceeding of the party and a chill-out in the park.

It wasn’t possible for me to put pictures up, and it will take a while.

But if you haven’t seen it yet, there are pics of last years Mayday in Glasgow:

http://www.ourmayday.org/glasgow/

Anarchobabe
Homepage: http://www.ourmayday.org/glasgow/

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02.05.2002 09:26

indeed, i enjoyed an extended study break yesterday, during which i observed -- but did not participate in -- the mayday protests taking place in kelvingrove park, near glasgow university.

i was indulging in a cigarette, but was drawn by the bass reverberations of hardcore music which i could hear from outside the library. i proceeded to the source in the spirit of adventure. there were hundreds of people -- a diverse bunch of students, homeless, beggars, neds -- all rolling around in the grass and mud. several vans, each with sound systems, all belting out rave music; wholescale violation of drink and drug laws; dancing in the sunshine. it is of note that only 3 police officers were present, and there were no indications of trouble. perhaps the metropolitan police could learn seomthing from the glasgow tactics.

i saw some girl who used to be in my class, but dropped out. unfortunately, she disappeared so i didn't get the opportunity to catch up with her. speaking quite frankly, a lot of anti-globalisation protesters behave like animals... rolling around in the mud chasing after dogs does little to further their cause. likewise, their 'ideology' is reactive and naive. nonetheless, the experience was interesting -- and uplifting. quite simply, i was touched by the spirit of protest.

thomas

are you sure u know whats the day in may?

02.05.2002 14:14

hey hello uk people. Reading your comments i think the bigest violation youve done in the day may is the meaning of the day. The 1st of may is not about drugs or rave music. The 1st of may is about an endless dream for a better society. And i think in uk you are all victims of the globalization. The goverment is paying you for been happy-unhappy. They pay you to stay in your house, they pay you to have chldren very early, and they pay you to make you feel happy, clubs, drugs, and after all the day in may, for a better society. Congratulations.

In the first day in may at 1887 5 anarchists died in Chicago USA and this is where the story came from and i thing this has nothing to do with what you are selebrating here people.

cu x.g.a

x.g.a

sdfsf

02.05.2002 15:21

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to x.g.a

02.05.2002 17:52

i dont think you have a clue what you're talking about. It sounds like you've never visited the UK for an anti-capitalist/globalisation event, and you've never really spoken to any British people about it before you decided to judge us all because of one message that was posted on this site. Think before you try to make a point next time. on mayday in London yesterday I saw many many people enjoying drugs and music in the sunshine in Trafalger Square. It's just a nice way to chill out and there's nothing wrong with that if that's what you like to do, but I can tell you that probably all of those people understood why they were there and had their hearts in the right places too. people's activities on the day dont matter that much if all they want to do is join in solidarity with lots of other people who feel the same way they do.

my opinion to x.g.a

02.05.2002 17:59

we all want the same thing right?

03.05.2002 00:12

I support all forms of resistance. If punks throw bricks through mcshit windows I'll hand them the bricks, if grannies walk down the street for peace I'll walk with them, if the black bloc wants to fight off snatch and grab arrests I'll fight with them, if inmates hunger strike for their rights I'll support them. what matters is not the form of the resistance but that resistance occurs, don't be too quick to criticise. Everyone has their own form of resistance and remember recognition of our diversity is what a lot of us are pushing, If we all fight the same way weve already lost. I'm justas happy with people dancing for joy (on drugs or not) as I am with people throwing molotovs into starbucks. All resistance is necessary.
Keep on pushing. Love, Aotearoa.

Vishala

Glasgow Mayday

06.05.2002 15:48

I thought Glasgow Mayday was a bit better than that; I worked with GAIA / Anarchist Federation / Black Flag to help get the hardcore soundsystem together, and to distribute 1000s of copies of the AFs 'Resistance' Pamphlet, as well as a Black Flag 'History of Mayday' leaflet which had a full history of the Chicago Martyrs. If people only came along to the park at the end and saw people rolling in mud then they didn't see the whole thing.

Of course a lot of people just come for the party, whats wrong with that? A young lad in a tracksuit (make your own 'ned' stereotypes) came up to me saying 'this is the first time i've been to anything like this, but not the last!' we then had a good chat about the police, freedom, capitalism etc...

Glasgow Mayday still kicks arse out of the boring 'official' union mayday (though the AF distributed leaflets there too) and is a great way to bring young people together for a party with a purpose.

Of course a Mayday party is not an effective substitute for year-round political action. If you'd like to get in touch with Glasgow anarchists and find out what we do for the rest of the year then send us an email to the above address.

N
mail e-mail: gaia2k@hotmail.com
Homepage: http://gaia.4dw.com